Where Marketing Meets Meaning
As Oscar Wilde observed, “There’s only one thing worse than being talked about and that’s NOT being talked about!” While we cherish this quip enough to name our enterprise after it, we’ve learned something important over the years: there’s only one thing better than being talked about, and that’s getting customers.
Think of it as the importance of marketing earnestly.
Our Approach
From Oscar Wilde to Seth Godin, great communicators have understood that remarkable content—content worth remarking about—isn’t just about making noise; it’s about making connections. We believe every business sits atop a goldmine of potential content. Our job? Part prospector, part storyteller, helping you uncover and shape those hidden gems into something worth talking about.
But here’s where it gets interesting: talk for talk’s sake is as useful as a chocolate teapot. That’s why we take an earnest approach to strategy creation, brand development, and content marketing. We’re not just looking for what’s interesting; we’re seeking what’s relevant to the audiences who matter most to your business.
Meet Your Marketing Partners
Steve Davis
Principal, GP of Marketing, Podcast Co-host
Think of Steve as a GP of Marketing—someone who’s seen enough cases (over 8,000 small businesses and counting) to spot patterns, diagnose issues, and prescribe solutions that actually work. With more than 1,000 WordPress websites under his belt and 20+ years in marketing communications, he brings a multidisciplinary approach drawn from his background in radio, journalism, and theatre.
Steve specialises in:
- Content creation across words, photos, and video
- WordPress customisation and recovery
- Workshop delivery and keynote speaking
- Podcast production (his passion project, The Adelaide Show Podcast, has been awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia)
Sectors he’s worked with include tourism, food and beverage, health, professional services, home improvements, building supplies, the arts, IT, and mental health.
David Olney
Marketing Strategist, Podcast Co-host
David had an epiphany while podcasting in 2016: how persuasively you communicate an idea matters more to your audience than how hard you worked to develop it. It’s an insight that perfectly encapsulates his approach to marketing strategy.
Bringing academic rigour and practical experience from:
- Teaching Complex Problem Solving at the University of Adelaide (15 years)
- Creating thought leadership podcasts including Blind Insights
- Studying Strategic Communication
- Working as a Business Development Specialist
David helps businesses:
- Refine their core message
- Identify their ideal audience
- Develop strategies that create value, rapport, and trust
- Navigate complex marketing challenges with clarity
Other Team Members Include
The Day Marketing Met Theatre (Again)
On a public holiday in Adelaide, Easter Monday, April 22, 2019, in the same cinema where Steve Davis married Nardia on a sweltering 42-degree December day in 2002, something rather interesting happened. A marketing consultancy was launched with a screening of The Importance of Being Earnest and a promise to do things differently.
Why A Cinema? Why That Day? Why That Film?
Sometimes the most meaningful business decisions aren’t made in boardrooms but in spaces that hold stories. The Mercury Cinema wasn’t just any venue—it was where Steve and Nardia had transformed their wedding into a complete cinema experience, complete with custom movie trailers, featurettes, and even a “turn off your mobile phones” message that the cinema continued using for months afterwards.
The date? It marked the Broadway premiere of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. But more than that, it marked a line in the sand—a moment to pause, reflect, and reset the balance between work and life.
The Oscar Wilde Connection
There’s a thread that runs through TAM’s DNA, and it’s woven from Oscar Wilde’s wit and wisdom. As Steve explained during the launch:
“There’s only one thing worse than being talked about and that’s NOT being talked about.”
This line from The Picture of Dorian Gray has served as a compass throughout Steve’s career—from radio to theatre, from marketing presentations to podcasting, from keynotes to stand-up comedy. It’s the principle that effective communication must be remarkable (worth remarking about), as Seth Godin would later advocate.
A Brand With Character
Working with designer Casey Cumming, we built upon an iconic image of Oscar Wilde, adding colour and playful details that reflected both our heritage and our future. The result? A visual identity that tells its own story about the interplay between classical wisdom and contemporary marketing.
Our Promise
At the launch, Steve made a commitment that still guides us today:
- Transparency with clients—no stories, no excuses
- Clear communication about challenges and timelines
- A fresh perspective drawn from experience
- Permission to play beyond the standard marketing playground
- Collaboration with other professionals to achieve client goals
As Oscar Wilde observed, “Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend’s success.”
At TAM, we’re here to create and celebrate those successes—yours and ours—through marketing that’s worth talking about.
The photos below capture moments from our launch day, where marketing met theatre, family met business, and a new approach to marketing communication took its first bow.
Why Choose Talked About Marketing?
We believe in blending intellectual curiosity with practical business sense. While we’re comfortable challenging marketing conventions, we deeply respect the principles that genuinely work. Our approach combines strategic thinking with creative execution, always focused on moving beyond mere talk to meaningful results.
Think of us as your marketing partners—equal parts strategists, creators, and teachers. Whether you’re looking to refine your message, reach new audiences, or simply make sense of your marketing options, we’re here to help turn your business story into one worth talking about.
Available for coffee, conversations, and creative marketing solutions
Enquire About A Website
Enquire today about booking a planning meeting, day, or series of session with David Olney and Steve Davis from Talked About Marketing.